The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-14
sIts q funny thing" said Betty, -

'Tt's a funny thing" said Betty, q,
she held it up, looking at it critically.
81 could make better one myself; but
she was hurried, you know. How 'fraid
you must have been when you are waitin',
| for Miss Eliza might come. Makes my
arms ache to hold her; thought they
was just rags; this is rolled on stick.
Did you ever look2"
"No; I never destroyed like some
children besides, I was told to keep her
nice"
'If you don't care, an can spare few
rags, III cut pattern out by this doll
it will save Gamma buyin', an truly |
never had dolls enuff, though Wouldn't
have her think so for the world"
Forgetting my own troubles in her
pleasure, I turned to my trunk to find
some pieces. Suddenly something
dropped and rolled with metallic
sound on the oilcloth under the stove.
"Look, Miss Jane!" screamed Miss
Betty, "that funny little coin fell out ol
the doll"
She reached for it with her crutch.
L plChcu IL uP-a Soiu ooio' Va 'i1S N'S''S
forty years back.
"In the doll!" gasped.
Eyes, it dropped out when stood hci
up straight. Iguess the old lady meant
it for s'prise."
Trembling with hope and fear I got
my scissors. 81 am going to see how
the doll is made" 1 said with queer
kind of a laugh, and I felt strangely
dizzy. 1t was rolled tight and scanned
at top and bottom. l ripped open the
top where there was stitch broken.
After the thickness of calico there were
layers of linen, and finally dug my
scissors deep into what seemed like
leather. A ripping sound, then chink,
clink, and little and larger gold pieces
went sparkling all over the oilcloth. A
bright ray of sunlight came streaming
into the window glinting on the gold,
and my little 'prisoned bird burst into
very torrent of melody and mirth.
ooh! oh. oh!' screamed Betty, "it's
money, money, money"
"Money, money, money" sang my bird,
while my gray cat supiciously smelled
of stray coin near her resting place.
Reverendly unwound the rags. I dared
not even claim the gold. At the very
heart of the doll was a faded letter. In
dim ink and faded lines read:
To little Jane Rice, or to any honest man
or woman who may find this secret:
Jane is q careful child and if she brings
back the doll in year sale shall dare to tell
her what is in it. If l die before that time
she may keep the doll in remembrance, for
she is q loving child. and some day, when
most needed, this money shall come to light
If it be found by others know the Providence
Il at watches oyer sad little children will pro-
tect t for her. If Jane should die give it to
the money in will, for they would make me
out crazy, and there would be lawing, which
dread, so leave this for her, trusting to
One who knows all things. hope Jane
will remember always the old friend who
tried to repay the Christmas gift, the little
gift Of selfdenial and gratitude.
HANNAH ALLEN.
''Don't cry" said Betty. "Dear Miss
Jane, laugh, 'cause you are rich. You
needn't never work in the store; you
can be lady, you can," in a rapturous
outburst (her idea of wealth and felicity.
"You can have the parlor bedroom !
Then you can own farm, with COWS an
a horse am chickens an dorgs-no, for
them would hurt your cats-an' lots of
Lovely things, an I'll sew the doll right
up again so you'll never know she was
busted.".
My landlady waslooking on in amaze
ment-shc had come in go quietly l had
not heard her. When told her this she
sat down on the floor and began to count
the money.
~ believe, Jane Rice, there is G thou
sand dollars here in the gold-for be-
sides the little ones some pieces Is ten an
more. I've got four thousand dollars
saved, an if you wantcr, you an Betty
an me will buy that farm she was pic
turin an spend the rest Of our days in
80 ne little town where folks will be
ncighborly."
''That is the dream of my life," !
cried. land know we can raise fruits
and flowers to help us out"
''It was all the story" said Betty; eve
never would a.knowed."
"This was the time for her to know"
said Gamma, gcntly-''in her darkest
hour"
1t was so--the bread had come back
from the waters, and Mrs. Captain Allen
had repaid the gift of a loving child a
l shall grow peonies, rcd
and white, in memory of her when our
home, where folks shall be neighborly,
is realized, and I shall try to bring sun.
shine and happiness into the lives OF
other sad little children as she brought
kindness and JOY into mine.-Neu York
Mercury.